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Depression

For some young people, feelings of sadness and unhappiness outweigh their happy and excited emotions.
When you have depression, these sad feelings become overwhelming and long-lasting, affecting how you think, how you feel and what you do. These feelings can last for weeks, months or even longer.

What is depression?

Depression is more than just feeling upset or sad – it is a serious condition which makes coping with day-to-day life to be hard and leaves you feeling down most of the time.

You might feel irritable, sad and stressed most of the time. Or you might get more angry than usual and feel restless, unable to relax or stop thinking about what is on your mind. Other feelings that you might experience include feeling guilty, worthless, frustrated, unhappy, indecisive, disappointed and miserable.

What causes depression

Depression is different for everyone, and there is no simple answer for why people develop the condition. For most people there is a combination of reasons.

There are a range of issues that affect how we think, feel and behave. Some people often develop depression after a stressful life event. It might begin with some feelings of sadness, distress or anxiety. Over time, these symptoms become more intense and overwhelming and can affect friendships, relationships and every-day life.

What you can do to start feeling better

With the right treatment and support, you can recover from depression. There are a range of things that you can do, both practically and psychologically, to help improve your mental health and wellbeing.

The recovery process can be different for everyone and it is all about finding what works best for you but you don't have to work it out alone. With the help of friends, family and perhaps a health professional, you will be able to find the support you need.

Where to get support

Sometimes you need more than the help of your friends and family.

Anxiety and depression are medical conditions and so treatment from a health professional is sometimes necessary. There are a range of health professionals available to support you while you recover from anxiety and depression.